by Shawn Nowlin
Season-two American Idol winner Ruben Studdard and runner-up Clay Aiken brought “Twenty: The Tour” to Roanoke’s Jefferson Center, where they told stories, delivered comedy bits, and performed numbers that made them household names during their “Idol” era. The undeniable musical talents of both Studdard and Aiken have taken them all over the world to perform in front of diverse audiences of all ages.
Minutes into the show, it was clear that Studdard and Aiken, both Grammy-nominated musicians, were experiencing unbridled joy on stage as the two engaged in playful back-and-forth banter, choreographed nostalgia dance moves, and more all throughout the family-friendly production with the audience loudly vocalizing their approval. Complementing the headliners on stage were singer Ashley Guin and the Just A Few Cats Band.
Part of the show felt like a comedy set on the unique chemistry between Clay and Ruben. “My family and I burst into laughter multiple times, especially when they broke out their dance moves. An artist doesn’t enjoy a successful career without having a special connection with their fans,” Kelly Smith said, adding, “My favorite song of Clay and Ruben is ‘Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word’ and ‘Sorry 2004,’ respectively. Both records got me through an interesting chapter in my life. Both artists, in my opinion, create timeless pieces of art.”
In 2003, Aiken was the runner-up on the second season of American Idol. With over five million albums sold, he is the fourth-highest-selling Idol alumnus. Moreover, Aiken has the distinction of being the first Idol alum to have their first single debut at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. Aiken arguably has the stronger fan base; after all, they gave themselves the name “Claymates” two decades ago. It’s easy to see why: he is a powerhouse singer, and his voice is still clear as a bell.
But Studdard is no slouch. He showed off the buttery tone that earned him the “velvet teddy bear” nickname from Gladys Knight. Within a year of winning season two of American Idol, Studdard, for his recording of “Superstar,” received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. Many in the Jefferson Center audience contributed to American Idol’s TV ratings two decades ago.
Following a 20-minute intermission, the two picked up right where they left off. At one point in the show after that, Studdard and Aiken changed into jean jackets before covering songs by Boyz II Men, New Kids on the Block, NSYNC, and the Backstreet Boys. Minutes later, Studdard donned a curly wig to perform the popular Rick James song “Give It to Me Baby.”
The two performers put on a flawless show that could work extremely well as a Vegas residency in the future. Having Aiken not share his gift is criminal hopefully venues will offer additional opportunities for the duo to perform.
